The Approach

The Global Protection Cluster itself is not an advocacy and campaigning platform, however, it is well positioned to convene a powerful collective voice through its broad membership, leverage the relationships with decision-makers and advocacy targets it has access to and by supporting ‘from behind’ when others are positioned to lead and have the most influence. The GPC has a particular role to play in amplifying advocacy efforts being led at the national level, based on the analysis of key protection risks and trends, identifying and leveraging related ‘openings’ for influencing, and playing a powerful convening role that enables it to bring together diverse protection actors to advance shared advocacy objectives.

National Protection Clusters should take a primary role in leading collective protection advocacy efforts, as a core function of the cluster approach and an essential activity to achieve protection outcomes.

“The overall strategic objective of the Global Protection Cluster on advocacy is to ensure voices of crisis affected persons and communities are heard, especially the forgotten ones”

To further operationalize this commitment to collective protection advocacy, the GPC has embedded new ways of working on advocacy, including by establishing an Advocacy Working Group. This Working Group is a permanent body that aims to leverage the GPC’s diverse membership, enable collective approaches and advance strategic opportunities that better connect local, national and global advocacy efforts, all with the aim of supporting strengthened protection outcomes for communities in crisis.

The Working Group is co-led by Oxfam and Save the Children and comprised of a range of GPC members, including NGOs, INGOs, networks, UN agencies, field Protection Cluster coordinators and members and AoR/other Task Team representatives, with advocacy expertise and interest.

The overall goal of the Advocacy Working Group is to collectively influence key decisions, policies and behaviours that contribute to the strengthened protection of crisis-affected populations, through the GPC and in collaboration with a range of diverse protection allies and partners, duty bearers and other stakeholders at local, national and global levels.

Specific priorities include:

• Based on robust protection analysis and evidence, collectively identify key protection advocacy issues and opportunities, advocacy targets and related strategic approaches for collective protection advocacy that reflect context specific needs and the value-add of GPC and AWGmembers.
• Take forward collective influencing efforts that can include private and public efforts, under the umbrella of GPC or via other collective channels, where GPC and AWG leadership or involvement has a clear ‘value add’.
• Promote consultation and collaboration with, and the leadership of, field Protection Clusters and their membership and other local/national protection actors engaged in protection advocacy, seeking to amplify and complement their influencing efforts through country-driven approaches.
• Engage with and support shared advocacy efforts across Protection Clusters, AoRs and other Task Teams, all with the aim of advancing strategic protection priorities.
• Contribute to, promote and lead the development of research, analysis, dialogue and engagement with key stakeholders in relation to priority protection risks, trends and approaches.
• Support critical reflection, learning and capacity building efforts in relation to protection advocacy, including through tailored supports and training, learning events and the development of advocacy-focused tools and guidance.